The Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025–26, India’s premier domestic one-day tournament, is set to begin on 24 December 2025and will conclude with the final on 18 January 2026. Featuring 38 teams from across the country,
the competition will once again serve as a crucial platform for India’s domestic talent while also seeing the return of several senior players to state cricket.
The likes of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will feature in the upcoming tournament. The duo is expected to play 3 games each. Along with Virat and Rohit, Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul will also feature in the tournament, representing and leading Delhi and Karnataka respectively. Virat Kohli is expected to play all three matches in Bangalore.
Tournament Overview
- Tournament: Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025–26
- Format: List A (50-over)
- Teams: 38
- Start Date: 24 December 2025
- Final: 18 January 2026
- Organiser: Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)
The tournament will be played across multiple venues in India, with several matches scheduled daily during the group stage.
Format and Group Structure
The teams are divided into two main categories:
Elite Groups
- Elite Group A
- Elite Group B
- Elite Group C
- Elite Group D
A total of 32 teams compete in the Elite Groups.
Plate Group
- 6 teams compete in the Plate Group, with the top team earning promotion to the Elite category next season.
Each team plays round-robin matches within its group. The top teams from the Elite Groups qualify for the quarter-finals, followed by semi-finals and the final.
Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025–26 Schedule
Group Stage:
- 24 December 2025 to early January 2026
Knockout Stage:
- Quarter-finals: Mid-January 2026
- Semi-finals: Mid-January 2026
- Final: 18 January 2026
The opening round on 24 December will feature multiple matches played simultaneously across different venues. Group-stage matches will continue until early January, after which the knockout phase begins.
Teams Participating in Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26
Some of the prominent teams competing in the tournament include:
- Mumbai
- Delhi
- Karnataka
- Tamil Nadu
- Bengal
- Baroda
- Punjab
- Rajasthan
- Madhya Pradesh
- Hyderabad
- Uttar Pradesh
All major Indian domestic sides will be in action, making it one of the most competitive domestic tournaments of the season.
Squads and Key Players
Several teams have announced strong squads featuring a mix of experienced internationals and emerging domestic players.
Delhi
- Captain: Rishabh Pant
- Key player: Virat Kohli (available for selected matches)
Rajasthan
- Captain: Manav Suthar
- Vice-captain: Aniket Choudhary
- Key players include Deepak Hooda, Mahipal Lomror, Rahul Chahar and Khaleel Ahmed
Madhya Pradesh
- Captain: Venkatesh Iyer
- Squad built around strong all-round options and spin depth
Mumbai
- Experienced domestic core with a focus on young batters and seam bowling depth
Other teams such as Bengal, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have also named balanced squads, with several players aiming to stake their claim for national selection.
Match Timings and Venues in Vijay Hazare 2025-26
Most matches will be played during the daytime, starting around 9:00 AM IST. The games will be spread across established domestic venues such as Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Rajkot, Bengaluru, Ranchi and other cricket centres across India.
Points System
- Win: 4 points
- No Result/Tie: 2 points
- Loss: 0 points
Net Run Rate will play a crucial role in determining knockout qualification.
